Impacts of poultry by-product meal substituting fishmeal on growth efficiency, body composition, liver, and intestine morphology of European sea bass, Dicentrarchus labrax.

A twelve week feeding experiment was conducted to evaluate the replacement of fishmeal (FM) with poultry by-product meal (PBM) in practical diets for European sea bass, Dicentrarchus labrax with an average initial weight of 0.89 g. Five isocaloric (5.1 kcal lipid g-1) and isonitrogenous (451 g protein kg-1) diets were formulated with PBM replacing FM at levels of 0% (control), 25%, 50%, 75%, and 100%. The experiment was carried out in 30-in. nylon mesh net cages (hapas). At the termination of the trial, growth performance including final body weight, weight gain, specific growth rate, and protein growth rate of diets containing up to 75% PBM were comparable to those of the control group, whereas the diet with 100% PBM resulted in a significantly lower values (p < 0.05). Feed utilization exhibited variation among the treatments (p < 0.05). Whole body composition also showed significant differences across the dietary treatments. Essential amino acid (EAA) contents specifically arginine (Arg), histidine (His), methionine (Met), and threonine (Thr) in the whole body of fish fed diets with up to 50% PBM replacement were not significantly different from those in the control group. Furthermore, the intestinal microvilli length, width and absorption area increased significantly (p < 0.05) with PBM replacement levels up to 50%. Histological analysis of the liver revealed mild vacuolation of hepatocytes in fish fed up to 50% PBM,while pre-pancreatic fatty degeneration of hepatocytes was observed in fish fed diets with 75% and 100% PBM. Therefore, this study demonstrates that PBM can replace up to 50% of FM in the diets of European sea bass without adverse effects on growth performance, body composition, or liver and intestine morphology.

Effects of exogenous bile acids (BAs) on growth, lipid profile, digestive enzymes, and immune responses of thinlip mullet, Liza ramada.

An eight-week trial was designed to explore the dietary effects of commercially purchased exogenous bile acids (BAs) on growth, whole-body composition, lipid profile, intestinal digestive enzymes, liver function enzymes, oxidative stress biomarkers, and serum immunity of thinlip mullet, Liza ramada. Four triplicate groups (10.50 ± 0.05 g) were fed four soybean meal (SBM)-based diets supplied with several BAs levels at 0 (control), 50, 130, or 350 mg/kg feed. Results indicated that the growth was significantly increased in groups fed BAs-based diets, especially at 130 mg/kg feed. The body composition analysis showed that feeding fish on diets supplied with BAs up to 130 mg/kg decreased moisture (%) alongside increased crude protein (%). However, the body composition of fish fed a diet with 350 mg BAs/kg had the lowest moisture (%) and the highest crude protein (%). Moreover, there were significant increases in the intestinal (protease, α-amylase, and lipase) enzyme activities in the groups supplied with BAs up to 130 mg BAs/kg. Liver function enzymes (aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase enzyme activities) were significantly decreased in BAs-supplemented groups compared to those fed the BAs-free group. On the other hand, the control group had higher total cholesterol, triglycerides, and low-density lipoprotein alongside the lower high-density lipoprotein than BAs-supplemented groups, especially at 350 mg BAs/kg feed. BAs significantly decreased hepatic malondialdehyde concentrations and increased the activity of hepatic catalase, superoxide dismutase, and total antioxidant capacity compared with those reared on the control diet. Serum lysozyme, respiratory burst, and alternative complement activities were significantly increased in BAs-supplied groups, particularly in the group supplied with 130 mg BAs/kg compared to those fed on the control diet. Accordingly, our findings recommend that including 130 mg BAs/kg in an SBM-based diet enhanced the growth, digestive enzyme activities, and liver functions, alleviated oxidative stress, boosted serum immunity, and lowered lipid metabolites in thinlip mullet. These findings will be beneficial for improving the quality of feed prepared for feeding mullets and an effective alternative strategy to support mullet farming.

Effects of Different Aquafeed Sources on Growth Performance, Oxidative Capacity, and Fatty Acid Profile of Three Carps Reared in the Semi-Intensive Composite Culture System.

The current experiment is designed to evaluate the effect of different aquafeeds (farm-made versus commercial) on growth, body composition, oxidative capacity, and fatty acid profile in the semi-intensive composite culture system. For this, 1,100 fingerlings/acre having initial body weight and length, Labeo rohita (61.34 g, 171 mm), Catla catla (71.45 g, 181 mm), and Cyprinus carpio (30.80 g, 91 mm) were randomly distributed to 16 ponds and randomly fed on eight different diets (n = 2 pond/diet) in a completely randomized research design. Aquafeed were farm-based diets (D1-D2) and commercial aquafeed (D3-D8). The farm-made diets contained various crude protein levels of maize gluten (24.9%) and rice polish (7.3%), whereas commercial diets were procured from commercial feed plants (AMG, Supreme, Aqua, Star Floating, Hi-Pro, and Punjab feed). The growth performance of carps (L. rohita and C. catla) was significantly improved (p < 0.05) by feeding D3 as compared to other diets. Similarly, white blood cell concentration was greater (p < 0.05) in all species fed by D3 than in those fed on D7, D8, D5, D6, D1, and D2 fed groups, respectively. Alanine transaminase, aspartate transaminase, and alanine phosphatase activities were significantly lower (p < 0.05) in the D3-fed L. rohita, C. catla, and C. carpio compared with those fed on the rest of the treatments. The activities of glutathione peroxidase and superoxide dismutase were also higher (p < 0.05) for the D3 fed L. rohita, C. catla, and C. carpio than those fed on the rest diets. The groups fed on D3 and D4 had greater (p < 0.05) concentrations of myristic (14), palmitic acid (16), and stearic (18) acids than those fed on the rest of the commercial diets. However, meat chemical composition was similar (p > 0.05) across the treatments. These results also prove that the increase in the dietary protein level and lipid content can improve the fish's body's crude protein and fat levels. Feeding D3 improved the production performance, oxidative status, and fatty acid profile in composite major carps culture systems. Thus, based on growth, survival, and body composition, it is concluded that D3 and D4 may be recommended for a commercial culture of major carps. Dietary treatments had no significant impact (p > 0.05) on water's physical-chemical properties. Calcium content and alkalinity varied (p < 0.05), with D5 showing the lowest calcium and the highest alkalinity.

Growth performance, antioxidant activities, and immunological responses of hapa-reared thinlip mullet (Liza ramada) juveniles fed on diets supplemented with spirulina (Arthrospiraplatensis).

Spirulina (Arthrospira platensis) (SP) has been utilized for a long time as a valued feed supplement because of its proteinous content and other beneficial phytochemical compounds. Herein, we investigated the influences of SP-supplemented diets on growth, body somatic indices, digestive enzymes, hepatic antioxidant activities, and immunological responses of hapa-reared thinlip mullet (Liza ramada) juveniles. Fish were assigned in six triplicate groups and were fed for consecutive 60 days on the prepared experimental diets containing varying SP levels as 0.0, 2.0, 4.0, 6.0, 8.0, and 10.0 g/kg diet and defined as control (CNT or SP0), SP2, SP4, SP6, SP8, and SP10 groups, respectively. The results indicated that dietary SP supplementation linearly and quadratically improved the fish growth performance, and the highest growth indices were found in the SP8 group. However, dietary SP supplementation did not significantly alter feed conversion ratio (FCR), survival rate (%), hepato-somatic index, and viscera-somatic index among all experimental groups. Meanwhile, digestive enzymes (lipase, α-amylase, and proteases) in the mid-intestine were also linearly and quadratically increased in all SP-fed groups, and their uppermost values were noted in the SP8 group. Hepatic antioxidants such as superoxide dismutase, catalase, and total antioxidant capacity in SP-supplemented groups were significantly elevated than the CNT group. Conversely, hepatic malondialdehyde contents were decreased significantly along with increasing dietary SP-supplementation levels. The immunological parameters such as lysozyme, respiratory burst, and alternative complement activities were significantly elevated in SP-fed groups than in the CNT group. These findings evoked that feeding SP-supplemented diets (especially at 8.0 g/kg diet) significantly promoted the growth, digestive enzymes, hepatic antioxidant status, and immunity of L. ramada juveniles.

The Immunostimulatory Effects of Commercial Feed Additives on Growth Performance, Non-specific Immune Response, Antioxidants Assay, and Intestinal Morphometry of Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus.

The main objective of the present research was to investigate the impacts of commercial immunostimulants on growth, non-specific immune response, antioxidant enzymes, and intestinal morphometry of Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus. Fish (100 ± 6.5 g) were randomly divided into five groups in triplicates (150 fish in each replicate), stocked in 20 m2 of aerated concrete ponds. The fish were fed on a control diet (30.0% crude protein) (control), and four experimental diets supplemented with Yeast Plus®, Digestarom®, and Biotronic® Top3 at 1 kg ton-1, and Sanolife PRO-F® at 0.5 kg ton-1. After the experimental period, the highest significant yield (kg m-3), mean final weight (g fish-1), average weight gain (g fish-1), and specific growth rate (% body weight day-1), were recorded in fish fed on the diet supplemented by Sanolife PRO-F, followed by Yeast Plus ponds. The lowest yield was recorded in the control group. However, the feed conversion ratio was significantly decreased with Sanolife PRO-F diet. Furthermore, the hematological analysis increased in the following ascending order: Sanolife PRO-F®; Yeast Plus®; Biotronic® Top3 and finally Digestarom® groups. The lowest concentrations of white blood cells, red blood cells, hematocrite, and hemoglobin (P ≤ 0.05) were observed in the control group. The levels of phagocytic activity and phagocytic index were significantly higher in fish fed with Sanolife PRO-F® group (P ≤ 0.05). Likewise, serum lysozyme activity was significantly highest in Sanolife PRO-F (0.63 and 0.68 U/mL, after 0.5 min and 3 min, respectively). Levels of total serum proteins, globulin, Immunoglobulin M, catalase, and super oxide dismutase were significantly higher in fish fed with Sanolife PRO-F® supplement. On the contrary, length measurement of the intestinal villus height/width, absorption area, crypt depth, and goblet cells, were significantly lower in the control group, whereas their highest values was observed in fish fed Sanolife PRO-F (P ≤ 0.05). Consequently, Sanolife PRO-F® is recommended at a level of 0.5 kg ton-1, to improve the growth performance, antioxidative capacity, and immune response of Nile tilapia.

Fish Nutritional Value as an Approach to Children's Nutrition.

Fish is a relatively cheap and accessible source of animal protein for human consumption even in rural communities. It is critical for global food and nutrition security, and its consumption continues to increase. As a highly nutritious food, fish consumption is highly recommended for children and expectant mothers for normal growth and development. The present paper explores the nutritional value of fish as approach to nutrition in children and its benefits. The findings reveal that fish is a valuable source of essential amino acids (EAA) and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) that play important physiological functions for maintenance and development of fetuses, neonates, and infant brains. Therefore, it could be a valuable tool in the fight against food insecurity and malnutrition. However, fish and fish products are also highly susceptible to contamination by various organic and inorganic compounds that threaten public health. Particularly, heavy metals and biogenic amines (BAs) have shown adverse effects when contaminated fish is consumed, and the effects in children have been worse. Hence, while fish consumption is highly recommended for children's nutrition, the safety and quality of the product should always be checked to safeguard public health.

Dietary supplementation of organic selenium improves growth, survival, antioxidant and immune status of meagre, Argyrosomus regius, juveniles.

Oxidative stress is considered one of the main obstacles to immune competence and high mortality rate of marine fish larvae due to the high dietary polyunsaturated fatty acids and accelerated metabolic rate. This study was carried out to assess the effect of different dietary selenium (Se) yeast on growth, antioxidant status, hematological changes, and cellular and humoral immune parameters in meagre (Argyrosomus regius). Juvenile specimens (3.20 ± 0.17 g) were randomly assigned to four experimental groups, a control group fed a basal diet and another three groups fed Se-supplemented diets at doses of 1, 2 and 3 mg Se-yeast kg-1 diet for 63 days and the final analyzed selenium concentrations were 0.77, 1.51, 2.97 and 3.98 mg Se kg-1 diet, respectively. The results indicated that growth performance, feed conversion ratio and survival were significantly improved with 2.97 and 3.98 mg Se-yeast kg-1 compared to the control group. The catalase, superoxide dismutase activities and total antioxidant status were significantly increased, and thiobarbituric reactive substances in liver homogenate were significantly decreased with increasing Se supplementation respect to the control fish in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, hematological and innate immune parameters (immunoglobulin, lysozyme, myeloperoxidase, ACH50 and respiratory burst activity) were also significantly higher in fish fed the Se-yeast supplemented diets compared to the control group. The results demonstrated that the supplementation of 3.98 mg Se-yeast kg-1 diet improves growth performance, antioxidant balance and innate immune status of meagre juveniles.